“I’m glad ConocoPhillips will be able to add to Alaska’s 40-year history of supplying natural gas to Japan,” Murkowski said. “Today’s announcement by DOE also highlights the growth that’s occurring in Cook Inlet, where there is now ample gas supply to both meet local needs and help out our friends overseas.”

In February, DOE approved ConocoPhillips’ application to ship the equivalent of 40 Bcf of natural gas as LNG over a two-year period from its plant on the Kenai Peninsula to countries which have free trade agreements with the United States.

Murkowski is the ranking Republican on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.